De Bello Gallico 6.7

6.7.1Dum haec ā Caesare geruntur, Trēverī magnīs coāctīs peditātūs equitātūsque cōpiīs Labiēnum cum ūnā legiōne, quae in eōrum fīnibus hiemāverat, adorīrī parābant.

While Caesar was doing this, the Treveri had gathered large forces of infantry and cavalry and were preparing to attack Labienus, who had wintered in their territory with one legion.

6.7.2Iamque ab eō nōn longius bīduī viā aberant, cum duās vēnisse legiōnēs missū Caesaris cognōscunt.

They were now no more than two days' march from him when they learned that two legions had come, sent by Caesar.

Note. nōn longius bīduī viā: 'not more than two days' march'; missū Caesaris: 'sent by Caesar', a rare ablative noun.

6.7.3Positīs castrīs ā mīlibus passuum XV auxilia Germānōrum exspectāre cōnstituunt.

They pitched camp fifteen miles away and decided to wait for the help of the Germans.

6.7.4Labiēnus hostium cognitō cōnsiliō spērāns temeritāte eōrum fore aliquam dīmicandī facultātem praesidiō quīnque cohortium impedīmentīs relictō cum vīgintī quīnque cohortibus magnōque equitātū contrā hostem proficīscitur et mīlle passuum intermissō spatiō castra commūnit.

Labienus, learning the enemy's plan and hoping that their rashness would give him some chance to fight, left a guard of five cohorts with the baggage and set out against the enemy with twenty-five cohorts and a large force of cavalry; leaving a space of a mile between them, he fortified a camp.

Note. fore: future infinitive of sum, depending on spērāns. mīlle passuum intermissō spatiō: ablative absolute, 'leaving a space of a mile'.

6.7.5Erat inter Labiēnum atque hostem difficilī trānsitū flūmen rīpīsque praeruptīs.

Between Labienus and the enemy was a river, hard to cross, with steep banks.

6.7.5Hoc neque ipse trānsīre habēbat in animō neque hostēs trānsitūrōs exīstimābat.

He did not intend to cross it himself, and he did not think the enemy would cross.

6.7.6Augēbātur auxiliōrum cōtīdiē spēs.

Their hope of help grew daily.

6.7.6Loquitur in conciliō palam, quoniam Germānī appropinquāre dīcantur, sēsē suās exercitūsque fortūnās in dubium nōn dēvocātūrum et posterō diē prīmā lūce castra mōtūrum.

He said openly in a council that, since the Germans were said to be approaching, he would not risk his own fortunes and the army's, and that he would move camp at first light the next day.

Note. sēsē … nōn dēvocātūrum: indirect statement after loquitur, with esse left out. in dubium dēvocāre: 'to bring into danger, to risk'.

6.7.6Celeriter haec ad hostēs dēferuntur, ut ex magnō Gallōrum equitum numerō nōnnūllōs Gallicīs rēbus favēre nātūra cōgēbat.

This was quickly reported to the enemy, since out of the great number of Gallic cavalry nature compelled some to favor the Gallic cause.

Note. ut: here 'as' or 'since', 'as nature compelled some of them …'.

6.7.8Labiēnus noctū tribūnīs mīlitum prīmīsque ōrdinibus convocātīs, quid suī sit cōnsilī prōpōnit et, quō facilius hostibus timōris det suspīciōnem, maiōre strepitū et tumultū, quam populī Rōmānī fert cōnsuētūdō castra movērī iubet.

At night Labienus called together the military tribunes and the first centurions and explained his plan; and to give the enemy a greater suspicion of fear, he ordered the camp to be moved with more noise and confusion than is the custom of the Roman people.

Note. quid suī sit cōnsilī: partitive genitive, 'what plan he had'. quō facilius: quō introduces a purpose clause containing a comparative.

6.7.8Hīs rēbus fugae similem profectiōnem effēcit.

By this he made the departure look like flight.

6.7.9Haec quoque per explōrātōrēs ante lūcem in tantā propinquitāte castrōrum ad hostēs dēferuntur.

This too was reported to the enemy by scouts before dawn, since the camps were so close.